Into the New Year!

Okay, I know I am not keeping this updated as many would like, and for that I am sorry. Our day to day life can get very boring to write and/or read!! So on to what has happened, is happening, and will happen(??).
Ryan completed his radiation on Christmas Eve as planned. We spent a wonderful Christmas day relaxing, sleeping, and playing with all the cool toys the kids got. The kids loved everything they received from the Employees from Frito-Lay, as well as what was supplemented from the Employees of Ineos (Ryan's co-workers). All that everyone contributed really touched our hearts.
Ryan was suppose to have a 5 day break from his chemo - however 5 days turned into 16 days!! We saw his Neuro-Oncologist on Dc. 30 and she said that she thinks Ryan is doing amazing...and if he tolerates this next round of chemo, she may release him back to work!! The dosage went from 140mg each day to 400mg each day!! This is a huge jump for Ryan and we were not real sure how well he would tolerate it. The only good aspect is that he will only take this dosage for 5 days - be off for 23 days - on for 5 - and so on for 6 months to 2 years. Tonight will be his 5 day and he has done extremely well...no sickness!!
Ryan also asked the doctor if he could have a couple of beers to celebrate the New Year?! She told him that as long as he took his seizure medication earlier in the day, she didn't see a problem with a couple. Needless to say - Ryan enjoyed his few beers on New Years Eve!! He sill has 3 months left before he can drive (as long as he remains seizure free).
Ryan is due for an MRI on Jan. 22, followed by a visit to the Nero-Oncologist the same day, and then with his Radiation Oncologist on 01/26. This MRI will be used as a baseline for what the cancer is doing in the future. The MRI taken on 10/12 will not help in determining anything with the cancer because his brain had too much swelling following the surgery. Ryan will continue to have a MRI done every two months as long as he is on the Chemo.
Ryan is still having bloodwork done each Monday. The doctors are having a heck of a time getting his clotting factor to stabilize. One week his blood is too thick - the next its too thin!! We go next week to have the Doppler done on his leg to check and see how the blood clots are doing.
Last week, Ryan and I had a conversation as to what he really knows. He asked how long the doctors had given him to live...being taken back by this question I asked him how long he thought. Ryan replied "I figure 6 months, what do they say?" So I explained it like this - "That the doctors had given us a Statistical number - this number is based mainly on older people who are diagnosed with the same type of cancer. But, that I had been sent a web page called "Young Adults Surviving Glioblastoma" or yasg.com - and on there I have seen where some people his age are anywhere from 3-5 years later from their diagnosis. Some people do better than others. However, our live's are always in Gods Hands and we will be given the time that we are meant to have. Ryan agreed and stated that he feels great - and will continue to have a positive outlook on the battle we continue to fight.
Nothing could have made me happier...there just seems to be no way to bring him down. He refuses to give in to the cancer and let it take over!! Well, before I begin to ramble to much, I will stop for now - but will update after we have completed all his visits for the month.
We continue to request your prayers and love. we are so grateful for all that we have received...and look forward to visits withmany of you. (please continue to call and stop by - Ryan is not bothered by either - he looks forward to hearing from and seeing friends and family, this helps to make his day not so boring!!)

with much love,
Brenna